VERMILLION, S.D. -- Ashley Robinette posted her third career double double to lead the South Dakota Women's Basketball Team (5-1) to a 85-45 win over UC-Colorado Springs (0-4) in nonconference action before 1,313 in attendance on Saturday, Dec. 2 at the DakotaDome. South Dakota improved to 5-1 on the season in winning its home season opener.

"Defensively, we were able to take them out of their offense. We did a much better job offensively in the second half in terms of our flow," said USD head women's basketball coach Chad Lavin, whose overall record at USD improved to 223-129 and his career collegiate mark is 398-291. "When we can make a few shots that really helps," said Lavin, referencing the Coyotes' struggles against Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday night when USD hit just 23 percent from the field.

Robinette, a junior from South Sioux City, Neb., just missed recording her first career triple double as she finished with 10 points, a career-high 11 assists and had eight rebounds. Robinette also had five steals

"Today was fun," said Robinette, who reached double digits for the third time this season. "After a long trip, it was great to come home to play in front of the home crowd at the DakotaDome. This game shows when we get everything clicking and get on the same page with each other, we can be a pretty good basketball team," said Robinette.

With Robinette, a total of five Coyotes reached double digits. Sophomore forward Bridget Yoerger (Hinton, Iowa) had a game-high 18 points while also grabbing seven rebounds. Yoerger hit 8-of-11 field goals in 27 minutes of action. Junior guards Jeana Hoffman (Mitchell, S.D.) and Jenna Hoffman (Mitchell, S.D.) also scored 10 points. Jenna also grabbed six rebounds and added six assists. Jeana had five assists and four rebounds.

Shannon Daly, a junior guard from Groton, S.D., had 13 points, five assists and two steals in 24 minutes for the Coyotes. USD's Maggie Youngberg (Yankton, S.D.) contributed eight points, including two three-point baskets.

Overall, the Coyotes hit 33-of-68 field goals for 48.5 percent. USD made 13-of-30 three-point field goals for 43.3 percent and made 6-of-7 free throws. South Dakota won the rebound battle, 46-33.

Colorado Springs was led in scoring by Nancy Hoist with 12 points and five rebounds. UC-Colorado Springs hit 15-of-56 field goals for 26.8 percent, including just 3-of-11 from three-point range. The Mountain Lions hit 12-of-17 free throws for 70.6 percent.

The Coyotes opened up a 9-7 lead on a jumper by Jenna Hoffman at the 16:49 mark. Later, Robinette and Jenna Hoffman hit three-pointers on back-to-back possessions as USD increased its lead to 19-9 at the 13:46 mark of the first half. The Coyotes lead grew to 33-9 after a lay-up by Yoerger. UC-Colorado went scoreless from the 14:08 mark to the 6:02 mark when a lay-up by Emily Jenkins cut USD's lead to 33-11. The Coyotes outscored UCCS, 9-7, over the six minutes of the half to take a 42-18 lead into the halftime break. Yoerger led USD with 12 first half points as the Coyotes made 51.6 percent from the field on 16-of-31 shooting. The Mountains Lions made just 7-of-28 field goals for 25 percent in the first half.

South Dakota also controlled action in the second half. The Coyotes opened up a 54-27 lead on a three-pointer by Jenna Hoffman at the 16:02 mark. Later, Natalie Carda (Beresford, S.D.) scored inside as USD increased the margin to 64-34 at the 12:08 mark. The Coyotes moved ahead by 40 points at the 6:35 mark (78-38) after Youngberg connected on a three-point field goal. From that point, both coaches cleared their respective benches as both team traded baskets.

The Coyotes hit 17-of-37 shots from the field for 45.9 percent in the second half. USD was 7-of-16 from three point range for 43.8 percent. UC-Colorado Springs also struggled shooting in the second half by making just 8-of-28 field goals for 28.6 percent. The Mountain Lions made just 1-of-8 second half three-point shots although they did convert 10-of-14 free throws.

Next for the Coyotes will be a game with the College of St. Mary's on Monday night at 6 p.m. The game is part of a women's and men's doubleheader at the DakotaDome. The Coyote men's team will play Morningside after the women's game ends.